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Election Day Produced Some Nail Biters in Chelsea

Pictured here on Election Day this Tuesday morning in frontof the Prattville polling station were School Committee candidateShawn O’Regan, District 1 Councillor Paul Murphy,Scott Levenson, and District 1 Challenger Bob Bishop. Thisyear’s election in Chelsea provided some real nail biters,and one Council race has already been tabbed for a recount.

Several close races, but few new faces was the storyline of Tuesday’s City Election in Chelsea.

The closest of the closest race took place in a hotly contested battle between Councillor Joe Perlatonda and Challenger Henry Wilson for the District 5 seat where there will be a recount in the race.

When the dust had settled in that race, Perlatonda had won by four votes – 81 to 77. Wilson has requested a recount, which is standard in any race that is so close.

Neither were immediately available for comment not he matter, and the date of the recount has yet to be scheduled.

Another very close race came in an unlikely spot – the School Committee. In an elected body that hasn’t seen a significant race in a decade, School Committeeman Angel Meza and Challenger Shawn O’Regan competed in a very close race – which Meza won by six votes (881 to 875).

They were running for the at-large School Committee seat and O’Regan was said to have pulled a major vote out of the Prattville area – surprising many observers. There was no word on whether they would have a recount in that race.

Though misfortune befell him later in the day (see other story on page 2), Councillor Calvin Brown topped the ticket in the Council At-Large race – which featured a very close fight between challenger Deborah Washington and Councillor Brian Hatleberg for the third seat.

Brown pulled in the largest vote by far, getting 1,211 votes. Behind him was Councillor Leo Robinson with 1,091.

Then, for the third spot, Hatleberg bested Washington 783 to 701 in a contest that was a little closer than some might have suspected it would be.

In District 1, Councillor Paul Murphy held off a legitimate challenge in Bob Bishop by a vote of 291 to 210.